De Ligt welcomes Man Utd & Barcelona links

The teenage defender has become a much sought-after talent, with leading clubs across Europe ready to spark a scramble for his signature

Matthijs de Ligt has welcomed transfer talk linking him with the likes of Manchester United, Barcelona and Tottenham, but is reading little into it. At just 19 years of age, the Ajax defender has already forged quite the reputation. He has taken in over 60 appearances at club level over the last two seasons, while also earning senior international recognition with the Netherlands. A bright future is being predicted for De Ligt, with his full potential likely to be unlocked outside of Amsterdam. Leading clubs across Europe are ready to spark a scramble for his signature, with the youngster admitting to being aware of the exit speculation. He told FourFourTwo: “It’s nothing special, to be honest. “There are so many tabloids writing things. I haven’t heard anything, so I focus on Ajax. “It’s nice to see your name linked with those kinds of clubs, but if I didn’t hear anything, it doesn’t matter.” Were De Ligt to secure a switch to Spurs, he would be reunited with a former team-mate in England.

Davinson Sanchez left Ajax for north London in the summer of 2017, with the Colombia international considered to be a top talent by those he left behind at the Johan Cruyff Arena. “He’s really nice, but when he goes on the pitch he’s like an animal,” said De Ligt. “Off the pitch, he’s humble and quiet – a little shy. Then he gets on the pitch and it’s like, ‘Whoa, what is going on here?’” De Ligt’s current contract at Ajax is due to take him through to 2021, with that deal including a 12-month option. The Eredivisie giants may, however, struggle to see that agreement through as interest continues to build in an exciting crop of young talent – with Frenkie de Jong and Donny van de Beek also generating transfer talk.